G. Chambers Williams III: Infiniti QX56 offers big comfort

Infiniti introduced the second generation of its QX56 large luxury SUV just last year, and it has quickly established itself as one of the best choices for anyone looking for a premium family vehicle with enough room for everybody.

With a starting price of $58,700 (plus $990 freight) for the rear-wheel-drive version and $61,800 for the four-wheel-drive model, the QX56 returns for 2012 with no major changes.

There’s room for up to eight people on board, although our four-wheel-drive tester was configured for seven, thanks to a pair of quite comfortable captain’s chairs in the middle row.

Nissan says that upgrades for the 2012 model are limited to the addition of the Blind Spot Intervention system to the Technology Package ($3,000); adding the 15-speaker Bose Cabin Surround audio system to the Deluxe Touring Package ($4,100); including heated second-row seats and remote tip-up second seats in the Theater Package ($2,950); and giving headlight washers to the two-wheel-drive model with the Deluxe Touring Package.

Also for 2012, the Tire and Wheel Package ($2,300) that was added late in the 2011 model year carries over unchanged.

Our tester came with all those packages — and a total price of $75,340. But, really, it doesn’t take that much to have a nicely equipped QX56 — if you can do without the four-wheel drive and all the extras.

As of last year, the QX56 doesn’t share a chassis with the Nissan Armada, but there still are a lot of parallels between the two vehicles, and they’re quite similar in function. The new QX is a bit more refined, however, and you’ll pay for that — Armada base prices range from $38,490 to $53,950 (plus $975 freight).

There’s a big power difference, as well. The QX56 comes with a 5.6-liter V-8 engine with 400 horsepower and 413 foot-pounds of torque, while the Armada’s 5.6-liter V-8 cranks out 317 horsepower and 385 foot-pounds of torque.

Also, the QX56 has a seven-speed automatic transmission, the Armada a five-speed automatic.

The power of the QX56 is surprising considering how heavy this vehicle is — 5,595 pounds for the two-wheel-drive model and 5,855 pounds for the four-wheel drive.

We took the vehicle on a weekend mountain cruise that included freeway and two-lane twisty-road driving, and never did we have to wish we had just a little more power. There was always more than enough, even when overtaking other vehicles on uphill grades.

Handling was surprisingly nimble, at least for a vehicle this big. This is no sports car, but running it through the twisties was a pleasure, not a chore. It seemed more like a sport sedan on the curves than the truck it is. It’s still large, though, so it won’t negotiate tight spots as easily as a car.

Our tester came with a very pleasing Liquid Platinum exterior and Wheat leather interior.

Comfort was about as good as it gets in a motor vehicle. Our front captain’s chairs were living room quality, and they created no fatigue on our long drives.

The adults in the middle row had no complaints, either, and the kids who scampered into the third seat were mostly excited that it was a “movie” car. Just remember to bring along some kid DVDs, though. We forgot and never heard the end of it. The captain’s chairs in the middle row tumble forward to allow access to the third row.

There’s 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third seat, enough for a weekend trip, but probably pushing it for the family on a weeklong trip. With the third seat folded (60/40 split, power fold), the cargo area opens up to cavernous size.

Fuel economy — or lack thereof — was a bit disappointing only because the QX56 has EPA ratings of 14 city/20 highway (with either rear- or four-wheel drive). But on our trip, which was mostly highway driving, the fuel monitor showed we were averaging about 13.8 mpg.

There are lots of new features and more standard content on the second-generation QX56, which is built in Japan rather than in the Nissan factory in Canton, Miss. The first generation was built on the same assembly line with the Armada in Canton.

The QX56 has been one of the bright spots in the Infiniti lineup this year. Through October, sales were up 14.1 percent from 2010.

Nissan says the new QX was designed to offer “a true five-star travel experience,” and it even can pull trailers weighing up to 8,500 pounds. It’s built on a new, stiffer frame, designed to enhance ride comfort as well as to reduce interior noise and vibration.

The really cool around-view monitor gives the driver a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle on the dash monitor, and the Bose audio system is outstanding. We had an iPhone connected by a USB cord to bring our tunes to the 15 speakers throughout the vehicle. The music functions of the iPhone can be controlled through the audio system, with playlists showing on the in-dash color monitor.

Despite the new exterior styling, the vehicle is still easily recognizable as a QX56. Among the changes are a new chrome grille, xenon headlights with optional washers and integrated front fog lights.

To improve aerodynamics — and fuel economy — the QX has a front chin spoiler, rear liftgate spoiler and redesigned outside mirrors. It has a 0.37 coefficient of drag, and there is “zero lift” from air passing underneath, thanks to that low front spoiler, Nissan says.

Standard are 20-inch wheels, but 22-inch, nine-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels were installed on our vehicle as part of the Tire and Wheel Package, which also brought all-season tires.

Other features are new LED taillights; heated/power-folding outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, courtesy lights and reverse tilt-down feature (a totally ridiculous feature that is common on many cars now); body-color running boards and integrated front and rear splash guards in the wheel arches; roof rails; a power/sliding/tinted glass moon roof; and a power rear liftgate.

Optional are self-leveling adaptive headlights, designed to move slightly in the same direction as the vehicle to provide illumination of the area into which the car is turning.

The QX56 is designed to be comfortable for eight adults, not with a back seat that’s better left to the kids.

Among standard amenities is the Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System, which also includes a back-up-camera system.

Leather seating is standard, but premium semi-aniline leather comes with the Deluxe Touring Package. Other features with this package include a hydraulic body-motion control system, heated-and-cooled front captain’s chairs, heated second-row seats with a remote tip-up feature for easy access to the third row, mocha burl wood interior trim, headlight washers, second-row footwell courtesy lights and an advanced climate-control system.

The body-motion control system helps reduce body lean in turns, giving passengers an easier ride.

Our Theater Package added the rear DVD entertainment system with dual 7-inch monitors on the backs of the front bucket seats. It comes with a pair of wireless headphones and a 120-volt power outlet for connecting game consoles.

The off-road-capable four-wheel-drive system has low-range gearing for serious trail driving. In automatic mode (high range only), the system can send up to half of the power to the front wheels; in normal mode, the rear wheels get the power.

All models — two- and four-wheel drive — come with Hill Start Assist, which prevents rollback when the vehicle is stopped on a hill and the driver releases the foot brake. This is a feature that’s more useful on manual-transmission cars, though.

Among standard safety features are four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for all three rows, seat-mounted front side air bags and tire-pressure monitoring.

The Technology Package added a lane-departure system that warns the driver then coaxes the vehicle back into the lane if it begins to drift out of it; radar cruise control, which paces the vehicle to the car in front; the blind-spot warning system that indicates if there is a vehicle in the adjacent lane on either side; and adaptive headlights, which turn slightly in the direction the vehicle is turning.